The US Senate has decisively advanced a substantial $901 billion bill aimed at shaping the Pentagon’s policy, moving it closer to being signed into law by President Donald Trump, who has expressed his support. This Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) represents a bipartisan compromise, merging distinct proposals that emerged earlier in the legislative session from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The NDAA not only authorizes a historically high $901 billion for military expenditures but also ensures a 4% pay increase for service members. This legislation places a strong emphasis on national defense, reinforcing the US’s competitive stance against major geopolitical rivals, notably China and Russia.
In a clear show of bipartisanship, the Senate voted 77 to 20 in favor of the bill after the House passed it last week. Notably, the current NDAA includes measures aimed at bolstering security in Europe, which marks a divergence from Trump’s recent national security strategy that appeared more accommodating towards Russia. The bill allocates $800 million for Ukraine, with $400 million allocated for each of the next two years, as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, designed to support the country’s military with US-manufactured weapons.
Furthermore, funding for the Baltic Security Initiative is included, with a provision of $175 million to bolster the defenses of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. To maintain a robust military presence in Europe, the NDAA restricts the Department of Defense from reducing the US military personnel stationed there to fewer than 76,000 and maintains the NATO supreme command title for the US European commander.
As Congress has successfully passed the NDAA for over sixty consecutive years, this enduring commitment underscores the importance placed on national defense. A recent tragedy, involving a fatal collision between an army Black Hawk and a passenger jet that resulted in 67 fatalities, prompted some Senators to advocate for enhanced military helicopter safety regulations, though this issue did not delay the bill’s progress.
While the measure does not fund the rebranding of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, a proposal favored by Trump, it includes provisions reflecting “culture war” agendas favored by many on the political right. Among these, a notable measure prohibits transgender women from partaking in athletics designated for women at US military academies.
This NDAA reflects a significant commitment to both defense and a set of policies that aim to navigate complex social issues within the military, highlighting the ongoing dialogue around gender and sport in American society.